BIG Energy Saving Week

Big Energy Saving Week is back! January 2014 will mark the third Big Energy Saving Big Energy Saving WeekWeek; a national campaign to help people cut their fuel bills and get all the financial support they are entitled to.

Energy is a huge issue and accessing it cheaply, getting support where needed and saving it where possible can have a massive impact on consumers’ ability to manage their energy usage and cost.

Many people stay on the same tariff or with the same energy supplier for years, without realising they could be getting a better deal elsewhere. They could be saving up to £200 a year, particularly if they have never switched before.

CHECK—SWITCH—INSULATE.

Check

Contact your energy supplier to check you
are on the best tariff and payment method for your circumstances, or if they can offer you any discounts to cut your bills.

Contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau to check you are not missing out on any benefits or tax credits that could boost your income.

Switch

Visit an accredited switching website to see if you could get your energy cheaper elsewhere. Shopping around for your energy supplier could save you as much as £200 if you have never switched before.

If you use heating oil as your main fuel, see if there are any local oil buying clubs you can join. If not, you might want to start your own.

Insulate

If you’re worried about how much money you’re spending to heat and light your home,
or just want to spend less, there are some simple steps you can take to make your home more energy efficient.

Keep in the heat by insulating the cavity walls and the loft of your home – you could save up to £320 per year. Most suppliers are giving away free or discounted insulation and other energy efficiency measures so ask if you’re eligible.

Lower Energy Bills for Kirklees Council Housing Tenants and Residents

Main Points

if you pay by Direct Debit you should be able to save an average of 10% – 15% per year off the cost of your energy bills.

if you are on a pre-payment meter as long as you have arrears of £500 or less then you can still join the scheme and your savings could be 40%

You can join the scheme up until April 17th 2013

For people on a lower income or on benefits this is the only way that you can significantly reduce your energy costs.

IMPORTANT – to sign up to the scheme you will need a recent energy bill and preferably details of your payments for the last year

The scheme is NOT suitable for Warm Zone customers.

The offer is for gas supplies, or gas/electric supplies, but not electricity only.

Once your offer is made to you, you will have 14 days to decide and then a 7 day cooling off period where you can change your mind. It will then take around four to six weeks for the change of companies to be implemented.

SAY NO! TO COMPULSORY DIRECT DEBIT PAYMENTS

Don’t take away tenants’ choice!

Join the Kirklees Tenants Movement Campaign

SAY NO TO COMPULSORY DIRECT DEBIT PAYMENTS

Deputation – Tenant representatives will be attending the Kirklees Cabinet Meeting on Tuesday, 26th February, being held at Huddersfield Town Hall at 4.00pm to hand in a deputation.

Kirklees Council – Kirklees Council Cabinet members have already said;

“We recognise that some people may never be able to achieve this form of payment and will be developing a minimal exemption criteria to ensure that we do not adversely affect those that require more support and assistance. We would value the involvement of KFTRA in the development of this criteria”

KFTRA request to Cabinet – KFTRA would ask that Kirklees Council consider making other methods of payment available to all council tenants for payment of their rent and service charges.

Demonstration– Tenant representatives will be demonstrating outside Huddersfield Town Hall from 3.30pm onwards and would like as many people as possible to come along and join us.

More Information – If you would like to show your support for this important issue and need further information then please contact KFTRA on 01484 223466

The Royal Horticultural Society is launching a new investment project in Yorkshire. Working in partnership with Yorkshire in Bloom, a new £100,000 fund will be distributed over the next three years to support grassroots community gardening across the region.

Gardening groups will be able to apply for funds to make a difference in their neighbourhoods. Advice and support will be given to groups by the RHS Regional Development Team based at Harlow Carr.

Small grants are available for groups that require start-up funding; a minimum of £300 and a maximum of £500 are available.

For larger projects, the minimum grant is £5,000, the maximum is £10,000.

The RHS wants to ensure that we are able to maximise our support for the projects we fund, so all applicants will be asked to register with